Sealed for His Glory

Are you standing on the edge of the kingdom or embracing your role as a child of the King? As sons and daughters of God, we have the authority of the King. However, do we live like we have authority over Satin, sin and death or do we live like subjects in the realm of a good King expecting to be served? If this is the case then might I suggest we do not realize we've had the authority to bring change all along.

A seal bearer is one who holds the authority of the owner of the seal. A son would receive his father's seal and with it the authority of his father. In a similar fashion, kings would give certain people their seal to do the king's will. They would then have the authority of the king and the resources of the king (A great example is King Xerxes and Haman from the book of Esther). If we are embracing our role as a seal bearer then we are living in the authority of Christ. If we are not, then we are living on the edge of the kingdom. If we are not, then there is so much untapped authority we are not using. We have authority over the Satan and demons (Mat 10:18-20, Mk 3:15), over sickness (Mat 9:1-2), over death (Mat 10:8).

As Christians, Jesus placed His seal of ownership on us (2 Co 1:21-22). Only He can open the seal. No one and nothing else can open it and has no place doing so. Anything that says it can have access to your life is lying and does not need to be there (This does not mean we should all go live in the desert and never talk to anyone. Ever. We are to live in community not in isolation. I'm talking more about the habits, sin patterns, lies that want to control us). When guilt or shame says it is my master, it is lying. Christ is my master (Ro 8:9-17). No longer do we need to conform to our old way of thinking (1 Pe 1:13-16). We have been made new. We are a new creation (2 Co 5:17).

We are in a spiritual war (Eph 6:12). However, God has already told us the outcome. We are victorious in Christ (1 Co 15:57, 1 Jn 5:4, book of Revelation). God always leads us in a triumphal entry (2 Co 2:14). You do not have a parade celebrating victory if you lost. We are operating from a place of victory. We do not have to surrender when God has already declared victory over us. We do not have to surrender to fear or to shame or to sin.

God has given us His armor to fight with. He has equipped us with everything we need for life and godliness (2 Pe 1:3). In Isaiah we see God put on the breastplate of righteousness and the helmet of salvation (Isa 58:17). We, like His children, copy the Father and also put on armor just like His (Eph 6). If we trust the armor God gives us has the ability to protect us but we never use it, it is becomes useless. It is meant for use. We need to use the armor God gives us.

We also need to prepare our minds for when spiritual attacks come (see the post Doubt from March for more). We used to live by the rules of sin, but now we live by the rules of Christ. Sin is not content to let us go. It will keep trying to re-master us. But we do not need to let it. Follow the example of your Father (1 Pe 1:13-15). We are also to follow the example of Jesus and prepare our minds. "Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God" (1 Pe 3:18, 4:1-2). The ESV Study Bible commentary gave this explanation of these verses:

Others have suggested that this is a reference to the believer being dead to the power of sin, as a result of having died with Christ (similar to Paul's concept in Romans 6:1-11). More likely, Peter's point is that when believers are willing to suffer, the nerve center of sin is severed in their lives. Although believers will never be totally free from sin in this life (cf. James 3:2; 1 John 1:8), when believers endure suffering for the sake of Christ they show that their purpose in life is not to live for their own pleasures but according to the will of God and for his glory.

Know that your adversary is real. He is not flesh and blood but spiritual (Eph 6:12). He is a "roaring lion seeking someone to devour" (1 Pe 5:9). He makes a lot of noise, but because we are in Christ, we are already victorious over him. Satan has no power over us anymore unless we give him power. Stand firm in faith and resist him (1 Pe 5:9). He has to flee when we submit ourselves to God (Jas 4:7).

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Pe 5:6-10).